We have to be asking some BIG QUESTIONS of ourselves and our government. What have we become?

Every day we continue to see signs of a widening MESS --- of injustices --- greed --- poor judgment --- killing and maiming --- failed policies --- war profiteering --- build-up of arms --- ravishing what belongs to others --- lies and propaganda filling our airwaves --- American citizens abused --- hatred building around the world for anything U.S. and more. I know in my lifetime, and I'm sure yours, we have never witnessed an Presidential administration in the White House that has more disgraced, dismantled, denigrated the values upon which our country was built than this one ---- nor have we watched top officials lead one debacle after another, right before our eyes, without any serious accountability for such failed leadership and a warring nature way out of control. There are those that contend this is not new. Okay, I agree, but thanks to the Internet, it is at least more and more visible --- exposed --- to us all, if we care to become part of the citizens who are responsible for turning the tide.

MORE SIGNS; BIG QUESTIONS: Fort Lewis Announces a New Policy to Trim Number of Soldier Memorial Ceremonies; Halliburton, Leading US War Profiteer Hits $20 Billion in US Government Contracts

You might think it odd to capture these two seemingly unrelated current events, but they do have a relationship --- a relationship to where we put our values and where our government is investing US Taxpayer dollars.

In a shameless proclamation, the Fort Lewis acting commanding general, Brig. Gen. William Troy, in a memo to commanders and staff last week, announced a new policy. Fort Lewis, which this month has suffered its worst losses of the war, will no longer conduct individual memorial ceremonies for soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Source: The Olympian - May 30, 2007). A copy of the General Troy's memorandum was obtained and posted on the United for Peace of Pierce County website.

"As much as we would like to think otherwise, I am afraid that with the number of Soldiers we now have in harm's way, our losses will preclude us from continuing to do individual memorial ceremonies.

I see this as a way of sharing the heavy burdens our spouses and Rear Detachments bear, while giving our fallen warriors the respect they deserve. It will also give the families of the fallen the opportunity to bond with one another, as they see others who share their grief."

In his memo dated May 22, Troy apparently said he asked the post’s senior chaplain, Col. Jack Van Dyken, to work out the details of the new policy. The Olympian reported: “This is not an intent to streamline the process or in any way detract from honoring the soldiers,” Van Dyken said. “It’s just being cognizant of the fact that when you have this many, the time involved in doing each one individually is just prohibitive.” Can you believe what you just read, knowing the time investment, sacrifice and anguish that our soldiers and military families bear every day?

In the same report, it is also noted that "other Army posts already consolidate soldier memorials into one or two ceremonies per month," as if it justifies this shameless cost cutting, time saving, disrespectful, inhuman decision.

THE BOTTOMLINE:So, if we are to get the full message here, our government will take every soldier they can get. Use them. Ask for the ultimate sacrifice from them and their families. Put them in harm's way, but because too many are dying, our government is unwilling to invest time, money and resources to honor each of those that fall in service to our country. This is immoral.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, we discover that our government, choosing its investments, has now lined the pockets of Halliburton (VP, Cheney's former employer) with $20 Billion in contracts that have been less than exemplary. CorporateWatch Hall of Shame reported May 16, 2007:

"...Houston-based Halliburton was chosen for allegedly being "the nation's leading war profiteer, for grossly under-delivering -- and shortchanging our troops -- on more than $20 billion in lucrative government contracts and for planning to move its headquarters to Dubai, enabling them to shirk paying their full share of United States taxes."

I ask again, and I hope you will too, what have we become?

In response, as I was finishing writing this piece, I heard Barak Obama speaking.He said, "We all have the opportunity to shape history." We need to wake up. Pay attention. See there are some BIG QUESTIONS to ask. We need to connect the dots and watch for the seemingly unrelated stories that serve as symbols of all that is wrong --- we have to share them with others, so they too can see the truth. We have to join together to stop the war, honor and care for those who served and recognize that the urgency and significance of the need for change in our country.

Together, we the people, can change things. The future is ours to create.

In the first 29 days of MAY:122 Coalition Forces DEAD in 29 days of May (117 US, 3 UK, 2 Other)1721 Iraqi Security Forces and Civilians DEAD 29 days of MAY3468 US Military DEATHS reported by DODSource: Iraq Casualty Count

A couple weeks ago a friend sent me a link to an article about the Iraq War. Like a lot of emails you probably receive, I didn't read it. I was too busy at the time. However, I did print it out and over the weekend, I finally sat down to give it my undivided attention and I'm glad I did. It is an article WORTH THE READ...one that will make you think and question the Iraq War from a new vantage point. I hope you will find the time.

The Moral Obligation to Lose The Warby Robert ShetterlyPublished on Thursday, May 10, 2007 by CommonDreams.org

Every act has moral and immoral potential. The girl scout who helps an unsteady old man across the street could also have pushed him aside. The aftermath of each action engenders a new range of moral possibilities. Having pushed him aside, she might then regret her act and return to help him. Even when we’ve made bad choices, acted out of indifference or greed rather than compassion and generosity, another choice awaits us: how to compound or rectify the immoral act, stay the course or imagine how to salvage some measure of moral standing. Since even a racist like George Wallace can have a Road to Damascus experience, anything is possible.

The immense immorality of the choice to attack Iraq, and base that choice in lies, propaganda, and fear is hardly news now. But the fact that, above all else, it was a moral choice means that another moral choice is possible. And only one choice would atone for the original.

This war will not end until the funding is cut off. Anyone who would continue the funding to “support the troops,” should also tell you that once you make a moral mistake, keep making it, and that those who pay with their blood for your mistake are grateful for the support. The logic of this position would also maintain that policy is made by soldiers and officers, not by the people, the Congress and the President.

None of the offered plans now before us to de-escalate the war disavow what we all know to be its original goals — control of Iraq’s oil and the building of large, permanent US military bases in Iraq. Nor do any of these bills address the central issue of accountability, the fact that this war is a war crime, a crime against our democracy, our Constitution, the Iraqi people, international law, and our own soldiers. Without accountability, our democracy is meaningless. Without moral action, our claim to integrity and respect are meaningless.

Our obligation as citizens is not to play political games with the Democrats or Republicans to help them position themselves for the next election. Our obligation is to demand that the laws and ideals of this country be upheld. The problem with the Iraq War is not that we are losing it and that we need a better strategy. The problem is that we have no moral right to win it. As bad as the colossal mismanagement, greed and corruption are, they are not the true issue. Betrayal of the public trust is the issue. Pre-meditated murder is the issue.

It is my deepest belief that the only good that may come from this disgraceful time in our history, will be the honest acknowledgement of how and why the country was mislead, followed by punishment for those responsible. Without that justice, we will learn nothing and be easy prey for the next abuse of power.

It is horrible to think that our soldiers have died and been injured in vain. However, if we demand accountability, demand impeachment, something honest will have been redeemed. All that blood and those blasted bodies of beloved people may form the bulwark against future abuse. In a sense freedom will have been won, democracy will be affirmed, justice will be established — here.

No one can tell you what will happen when the US withdraws the troops. Although, many did predict the chaos of insurgency and sectarianism that resulted from the attack. But whatever happens after our withdrawal, it will be made easier if we involve international peacekeepers, remove our bases, forego any claim to the oil, and pay reparations. The war is a moral and legal catastrophe and will continue to be. But since we precipitated it, we can’t pretend also to want to protect the Iraqis from it. We can’t. We’re the cause of it.

This administration has acted from a position that denigrates human rights, legal rights, moral rights, the rights of decency, inalienable rights, privacy rights, civil rights, women’s rights, environmental rights, worker’s rights, and children’s rights. The only right they have respected is the right of entitlement. Their own. Our only hope is to demand our rights, our rights as citizens, our rights to our ideals, our rights to a sense of morality.

The destruction of a small village in Vietnam was once explained away by our military as a village that had to be destroyed in order to save it. That perversity became symbolic of the entire war. Accurately. The War on Iraq should now be described as a war that must be lost in order to save America. That is our moral obligation.

Applause to Robert Shetterly for his contribution to make us think! Now what do we do as Americans? Everyday I wake up wondering why we are not more outraged at how the current administration has disgraced our country in so many ways --- how our inaction continues to allow noble men and women serve in a war by order of the President for a cause that has proven to be far less than noble with decades of implications ahead. I'm not thinking politics here, folks! Our problems are so far beyond political alliances. We're all guilty for allowing and keeping such incompetence, poor judgment and lack of leadership to be at the helm of our country. Plato was right when he said: One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors..."

How can we join together to do what Shetterley suggests: Our only hope is to demand our rights, our rights as citizens, our rights to our ideals, our rights to a sense of morality.

How many deaths will it take before we stop a war that should never have been started? Supporting our troops doesn't mean leaving them there ill-equipped amidst a civil war for a cause that is founded on lies, greed, profiteering and poor leadership judgment.

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Tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the US. My dad was a "war hero". Funny, it wasn't something he ever bragged about---in fact, my knowledge of his two Bronze Stars didn't come from him. They came from reading clippings in a box he left behind and a glimpse here and there from members of the family.

Now that I am older and have had a time to think and question WAR, I know why he didn't mention it. He didn't believe in it either. I doubt that he could reconcile its value and rightness with what he witnessed and experienced---bombings, death and destruction. You see, he was a Chaplain. What he brought to this entrusted role was that he made a conscious decision to stay with the men on the frontlines and in the process, he was called upon to do some heroic acts in the line of duty that saved lives. However, I am quite certain, he too must have questioned how war and rumors of war were aligned withloving one's neighbor.

I don't like to remember him as WAR HERO...I like to remember him as my dad and somehow I am certain that out there in the distance are many daughters and sons, who feel the same today. So instead of talking about WAR, I wanted to share a story of one of my favorite early memories of dad in commemoration for his love, his bravery, his courage to serve and for being my HERO:

MY DAD and MEInterestingly, most of my early memories start just as I was turning five. It was a year of great change. Just before this time, I have one memory I cherish. I was three, maybe close to four.

My father was a prominent minister in the East in a small church.He was called to a larger church in California.The family moved across country.

I remember walking out of the new house with him,all dressed up in a fancy dress with my best shoes.The house was right next door to the new church.The walkway was lined with yellow rose trees.He held my hand and warmly coaxed me to come along with him.He had a warm presence that drew people to him.I was one. I adored him.He called me Honeybear.

He led me to the church steps.Long and steep from my perspective, reaching up and up and up to the big doors.His encouragement made all things possible.I climbed step-by-step alone---about halfwayI sat down, fixing my skirt,then posing with with a smile meant for him.He took my picture.

Epilogue...

After he died some years back,I found this picture among his cherished things.It confirmed my sacred memory of that day,When he captured the picture of the two great loves in his life into permanence.

When I was five he went away.It would be years before I understood why....and years more until I knew it wasn't about me.

IN COMMEMORATION of all the brave dads.May we find our way to PEACE for all the people. May we find the courage and care inside to SPEAK-UP! STAND-UP! and SHOUT-OUT! to until we, the people, turn the tide on this ill-conceived war of greed and profiteering and bring our toops safely home.